Dispensers



L. V. LOCKE July so, 1957 DISPENSERS Filed Feb. 23, 1954 FIG -2 FIG-1 INVENTOR. LOYAL v. LOCKE' ATTORNEYS United States Patent G DISPENSERS Loyal V. Locke, Delphos, Ohio, assignor to The Huttman Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,938

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-74) This invention relates to liquid dispensers of the type commonly used for fluids such as oil and anti-freeze in garages, service stations and the like.

The invention has special relation to dispensing devices of the general type illustrated by Vahle 2,067,554 and Hall 2,303,690, issued January 12, 1937, and December 1, 1942, respectively to the assignee of this application, and 'of my application Serial No. 343,645, filed March 20, 1953, now Patent No. 2,751,129, issued June 19, 1956 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. In such dispensing devices, the casing which receives the liquid contents for dispensing is provided with a valved discharge outlet having a flexible or hinged delivery spout therebelow for insertion in the fill spout of the automobile engine, radiator or the like. The present invention is especially directed to the provision of a dispensing device of this general type which is of simplified overall construction facilitating fabrication thereof at economical cost and which is also considerably more rugged than devices of this character previously available in the art as well as simpler to use and maintain and more positive in operation.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device of the above type embodying a valve for closing the discharge outlet which is composed of a small number of parts for economical manufacture, which incorporates a spring serving both to mount the valve for operation and to bias the valve normally to closed position, which is responsive to a simple upward pull to open the discharge outlet, and which closes automatically when the opening force thereon is released.

An additional object is to provide such a dispensing 'device in which the valve controlling the discharge outthe valve away from the outlet to its open position, and in which this spring serves as the sole mounting and guiding force for the valve in addition to its biasing action.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a dispensing device of the above type in which the valve controlling the discharge outlet is operated by a simple toggle mechanism mounted on the side wall of the casing in such manner as to exert an upward pull on the valve against its biasing spring as thetoggle straightens, and especially to provide such a device which also incorporates a flexible delivery spout connected with its discharge outlet and in which a retaining member for the outer end of the spout is mounted on the upward end of the device in such manner as to effect automatic shifting of the toggle mechanism in the direction to close the valve upon moveing drawing and the appended claims.

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In the drawing- Fig. l is a view in vertical section showing a dispensing device constructed in accordance with the invention, the view being in section on the line 11 of Fig. 3

Fig. 2 is a fragmentry view looking from left to right in Fig. 1 and partly broken away to illustrate the construction and operation of the operating mechanism for the valve;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 which also illustrates the operation of the mechanism for automatically closing the valve;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 showing a modified construction of the valve member in the device of Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the valve of Fig. 4, partly broken away;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 66 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing the valve closing member in operated and spout holding position with a portion of the spout broken away for greater clarity of ilustration.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, the illustrated dispensing device is of the type commonly used in filling stations for directly dispensing the contents of a filled can such as a can of oil. The casing 10 is accordingly of cylindrical configuration and of a size suitable for receiving a can of the desired capacity, and a knife 11 is mounted on the front interior wall of the casing for opening the can as the latter is forced downwardly into the casing. A curved guide plate 12 is welded on the opposite wall of the casing to guide the can into proper operating relation with the knife 11, and the usual carrying handle 13 is secured to the back of the casing.

The bottom of the casing 10 is formed by a plate 15 soldered within the casing in forwardly tilted position above the bottom end of the casing, the casing wall being provided with an internal head 16 for locating the bottom 15 in proper position. The discharge opening 20 for the contents of the unit is formed in the bottom 15 at the front of the casing. Fig. 1 shows the device as having an elbow 21 secured to the bottom 15 below discharge opening 20, and a flexible spout 22 is secured to the forward end of this elbow for direct connection to the fill spout of the automobile engine, this spout having a rigid end 23 provided with one or more ribs 24. The discharge outlet 20 may if desired alternatively be provided with a hinged rigid spout, which may be constructed as shown in the above noted Vahle patent.

The valve controlling the discharge outlet 20 is shown in Fig. 1 as a disk 25 of leather or other suitable material provided with a pair of reinforcing washers 26 and 27 and secured by a rivet 28 to a leaf spring 30 mounted as by means of a pair of rivets 31 on the bottom plate 15 of the casing. The spring 30 has flattened end portions and a curved central portion, and it is proportioned to exert the proper downward biasing force on valve 25 to maintain it normally in its closed position covering outlet 20. The curved central portion of this spring, however, is readily deflected upwardly to permit the valve to be opened for discharge of the contents of the casing, and the forward end of spring 30 is turned upwardly to form a flange 32 adapted for connection to one end of a rod 33 forming an operating link for thus raising the spring to open the valve. Figs. 4 and 5 show an alternative construction of valve comprising a metal disk 35 provided with a plastic coating 36 and having an angle bracket 37 welded to its upper surface and extending through a slot in the end of spring 30 for attachment to the rod 33.

The operating mechanism for the valve is carried by the guide plate 12 within the casing. A lever 40 is'pivoted respect to the'pivot 41.

, 3 by a rivet 41 on a recessed portion of this guide plate, and it includes a portion 42 formed at right angles to the lower portion of the lever and extending above the upper end of the casing wall. A link 44 is pivoted to lever '40 by a rivet 45 at a position oifset from 'the' rivet 41, and the lower end of this link 44 is turned to form a flange 46 projecting through an inwardly formed slot 47 in the lower portion of the guide plate 12. The link 44 is slidable in the space between guide 7 plate 12 and the adjacent wall of the casing, being guided in its upward and downward movement by the engagement of flange 46 in slot 47, and it cooperates with lever 40.to form a toggle mechanism. The rod 33 is connected to the flange 46 and thus forms the connecting link' between this toggle mechanism and the valve 45 forIconnection with this valve. Thus as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, when the toggle mechanism is broken bymovement of the lever 40to its lower position the H valve is closed by operation of spring 30, but when lever.

40' is rotated in the direction to straighten the toggle linkage, link 44 is raised and thus pulls the valve through 'link33 and against spring 36 to'its open position shown force of spring 30.

- Means are provided for both retaining the spout 22 in 2 its normal inoperative position and for automatically effecting closing of the valve when the spout is returned to this'position after use. A rod 50 is curved to generally semi-cylindrical form and is mounted on the upper end of casing 16 between the overturned bead 51 and a plurality of retaining brackets 52, and near the front of the casing this rod is retained by a clip 53 of substantially greater depth than the diameter of the rod to provide for correspondingly substantially flexing of this portion of the rod outwardly of the casing. 'At the forward end of this rod 50 is a hook 55 cooperating with the adjacent portion of the casing to form an open loop proportioned for resiliently gripping the rigid end 23 of spout 22.. The opposite end of rod 50 is bent to a.

form an upwardly inclined cam 56 which is adapted for engagement with the beveled edge 57 of the lever portion 42 when lever 40 is in its straightened position opening valve 25.

The rod 50 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3 in the position it occupies while the valve 25 is open for dispensing the contents of the unit. After such contents have been completely dispensed, the operator will normally raise the spout 22 and swing its It will accordingly be seen that this invention provides a dispensing device having multiple advantages from the standpoint of both the manufacturer and user. Each unit is composed of relatively few parts, and these parts individually are similar in form as well as easy to assemble. valve to its closed position but also to mount the valve as well as to guide its operating movements; As a result, no special alignment of these parts is required, since if the holes for the discharge outlet and the rivets 31 are initially provided with the aidof suitable jigs, the correctealignment of the valve and spring in the casing is automatically assured. The parts of the valve-operating mechanism 'are similarly of simple form, correspondingly reducing both the time and the equipment required for fabrication and assembly. i :Q

These advantages of simple and rugged construction carry over to the use of the dispensing units ofthe invention. With the spring 30 located and operating as described, positive closing of the valve is always assured, especially since the spring acts directly on the valve and not through other connecting parts. The combined valvecioser. and spout-retainer for a fierible spout is similarly advantageous for the user, since it assures that the valve will always be closed when the spout is in its raised and inoperative position. In addition, the over-all simplicity of the device is of material aid in maintenance, especially from the standpoint of the ease with which each unit can'be cleaned.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i a Y 1. A liquid dispenser of the character described comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to receive liquid contents'for dispensing, said casing including a bottom having a discharge opening therein provided therebelow with an extended flexible spout, a valve adapted to close said discharge opening from Within said casing, a spring con: nected with said valve to bias said valve to the closed position thereof, operating means including an operating rigid end 23 in generally clockwise direction as viewed in Y 7 force, after the hook has reached clip 53,'it will be forced open within clip 53 and against its own resilience until the spout end is received within the hook as shown in Figs..1 and 7, and these actions are raided by the additional outwardly turned cam portion onthe forward end of hook 55.

The movement of the rod 50 as just described causes the camportion 56 at its back end to engage the beveled edge 57 on the portion 42 of lever 40, and with the cam portion 56 inclined as shown, this will raise the lever suificiently for the pivot 45 again to pass over center with As soon as this relatively small movement of the lever has taken place, the spring 39 'will act to snap the lever to 'itslower position shown in 'fulllines in, Figs. land 2, thereby automatically reclosing the v'alve 25. 'If the unit is equipped with a hinged rigid spent as noted above, it may be provided with a valve lever'for opening said valve against-said spring,'means pivoting said lever on the back of said casing for limited over-center movement to a position cooperating with said spring to lock said valve in the open position thereof, retaining means for the free end of said spout including a resilient rod curved to fit around a portion of the upper' end'ofsaid casing, means supporting said rod for movement around said casing and including a clip mounted 'on the front portion of said casing and of substantially greater depth than the thickness of said rod to provide for movement of said rod therein outwardly of said case ing, a hook on the end of said rod forward of said clip and extending outwardly of said casing to abut said clip for terminating said movementof said rod, said'hook forming with said casing an open loop proportioned to receive and hold said spout end therein upon resilient deformation of said hook outwardly of said casing, and a cam portion on the rearward end of said rod positioned to engage and force said lever over center from said locking position thereof in response to movement of said rod caused by engagement of said spout with said hook.

2. A liquid dispenser of the character describedcomprising a cylindrical casing adapted to receive liquid contents for dispensing, said casing including a bottom having a discharge opening therein provided therebelow with an extended flexible spout, a valve adapted to close said discharge opening from within said casing, a spring connected with said valve to bias'said valve to the closed position thereof, operating means including an operating Thus the spring 30' serves not only to bias the lever for opening said valve against said spring, means pivoting said lever on the back of said casing for limited over-center movement to a position cooperating with said spring to lock said valve in the open position thereof, retaining means for the free end of said spout including a resilient rod curved to fit around a portion of the upper end of said casing, means supporting said rod for movement around said casing and including a clip mounted on the front portion of said casing and of substantially greater depth than the thickness of said rod to provide for movement of said rod therein outwardly of said casing, a hook on the end of said rod forward of said clip and extending outwardly of said casing to abut said clip for terminating said movement of said rod, said hook forming with said casing an open loop proportioned to receive and hold said spout end therein upon resilient deformation of said hook outwardly of said casing, a cam portion on the rearward end of said rod positioned to engage and force said lever over center from said locking position thereof in response to movement of said rod caused by engagement of said spout with said hook, and said hook having an outwardly turned forward end portion forming a second cam for causing said movement of said rod and deformation of said hook in response to engagement thereof by said spout end.

3. A liquid dispenser of the character described comprising a casing adapted to receive liquid contents for dispensing, said casing including a bottom having a discharge opening therein provided therebelow with an extended flexible spout, a valve adapted to close said discharge opening from within said casing, means including a spring mounting said valve on said bottom with said spring biasing said valve to the closed position thereof, an operating lever for said valve having a pivotal mounting on said casing and extending above said casing for pivotal movement between upper and lower positions, means connecting said valve with said operating lever at a point spaced from said pivotal mounting to provide for upward pulling movement of said valve against said spring to open said discharge opening in response to pivotal movement of said lever to said upper position thereof, means pivoting said lever on said casing for limited overcenter movement beyond said upper position to lock said valve in the resulting open position thereof, retaining means for the free end of said spout mounted on the outside of said casing for limited movement therearound and including a retaining hook for said spout open on the side thereof, and said retaining means including a cam portion spaced from said hook and adapted to engage and force said lever over-center from said locking position thereof in response to movement of said spout into said hook.

4. A liquid dispenser of the character described comprising a casing adapted to receive liquid contents for dispensing, said casing including a bottom having a discharge opening therein provided therebelow with an extended flexible spout, a valve adapted to close said discharge opening from within said casing, a leaf spring secured at one end to said valve and extending generally diagonally of said casing from said discharge opening, means mounting the other end of said spring on said bottom plate with said spring biasing said valve to the closed position thereof, operating means for said valve mounted on the opposite side of said casing from said valve and including an operating lever, means connecting said valve with said lever for upward pulling movement against said spring to open said discharge opening, said mounting means for said spring including means securing said spring against angular movement on said bottom to maintain said valve in operating alignment with said discharge opening and thereby constituting with said spring the only means for guiding the movements of said valve, means pivoting said lever on said casing for limited overcenter movement to a position locking said valve in open position, retaining means for the free end of said spout mounted on the outside of said casing for limited movement therearound and including a retaining hook for said spout, and said retaining means including a cam portion spaced from said hook and adapted to engage and force said lever over center from said locking position thereof in response to movement of said spout into said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,195,102 Schmidt Aug. 15, 1916 1,783,457 Wilson Dec. 2, 1930 1,885,472 Pone Nov. 1, 1932 2,067,554 Vahle Jan. 12, 1937 2,303,690 Hall et al. Dec. 1, 1942 

